What I’m Watching: Modern Family

Modern Family: Season 1, Episode 10 “Undeck the Halls” (B+)

This show is really capitalizing on generally the same kind of setup each episode, and it’s working magnificently. Focusing on Phil’s questionable parenting techniques, Jay’s desire not to change, and Cameron’s longing for the spotlight seems to be the loose outline for each episode, and in this one, it all turns out to be very funny. Alex’s brilliant plan to have each of them take the fall for something none of them did didn’t exactly plan out as panned, and seeing Phil struggle to drag the tree out of back and into the house was great. The divide in parenting points of view between Phil and Claire was also funny, best evidenced by Phil not putting too much of an emphasis on the lying and not enough on the smoking, much to Claire’s chagrin. Watching the usually hapless Manny pull one over on Jay was hilarious, mostly due to how impressed he was with himself and how put off Jay was by the prank. The skinny Santa wasn’t as funny as everything else, but his need to utilize violence at the end of the episode because the guy was naughty instead of nice was pretty great. I really enjoy the interview sequences with Cameron and Mitchhell, especially when Cameron tries to be subtle in describing one of the things that make him truly joyful in life, like caroling. Running into them at the mall and then getting insulted by the head mutineer were definitely high points of the episode.